Australia: Proterozoic

The transition from the Archean to the Proterozoic Eon heralded profound changes in global-scale geological processes, culminating in the emergence of an oxygenated atmosphere on Earth. These changes to the Earth system were driven and enhanced through the Proterozoic by the constant reorganization of the continents into global-scale land masses known as supercontinents. The Proterozoic geological history of Australia provides an almost unbroken record of these global-scale changes and chronicles numerous supercontinent cycles. The present-day Australian continent is comprised of three principle Archean components, or "cratons," namely the West, North and South Australian Cratons, that were stabilized and sutured together at various times throughout the Proterozoic.